Parts of Sentences
1 1.
Subject
The subject of a sentence is the
noun---or word group acting as a noun---that performs the action
expressed in the predicate of a sentence or clause. The subject may be one
word: Sally loves chocolate. The subject may be in a
noun phrase:
·
Seeing the parade was
exciting.
·
The black and white dog was barking
fiercely at the stranger.
2. Predicate
The predicate is the part of the
clause or sentence that says something about the subject. In other words,
the part of the sentences that is not the subject and its modifiers is the
predicate. A predicate can be one word or several words, not all of which are
verbs.
The principal part of the predicate
is the verb.
·
The
dog sniffed.
·
The
dog has been sniffing.
·
The
dog sniffed, looked around, and growled.
3 3.
Object
The object of a sentence can be a noun, pronoun, or word
group that acts as a noun, and receives the action of a verb or is influenced
by a transitive verb, verbal (a word derived from a verb, i.e., gerund,
infinitive, and participle), or a preposition.
4 4.
Complements
A word or word group that completes the meaning of
a subject, an object, or a verb.
a.
Subject
complement: Follows a linking verb and modifies or refers to the subject.
It may be a noun (also known as a predicate noun or nominative) or an adjective
(also known as a predicate adjective).
·
Olivia is
pretty. (The adjective pretty is a subject complement; it describes the subject, Olivia.)
·
Annie is
an English teacher. (The noun phrase English
teacher is also a subject complement; it
describes Annie.)
b. Object complement: Follows and modifies or
refers to a direct object.
·
Blake
considers American television silly. (television is the direct object. silly describes television; it is the object complement.)
·
The
judges elected her Miss Brazil, 2002. (Miss Brazil is the object complement, describing the direct object her.)
c. Verb complement: This is a direct or
indirect object of a verb. It may be a noun, pronoun, or word or word group acting
as a noun.
·
Aunt
Gertie gave Patty my dessert. (Patty is the indirect object, my
dessert is the direct object of the verb gave. Both are
considered verb complements.)
5 5.
Phrases
A group of related words that lacks a subject, or a
predicate, or both---and that acts as a single part of speech.
a. Prepositional phrase: Consists of a preposition and its objects
and modifiers. The object of the preposition is a noun or something acting
as a noun (for instance, a gerund).
b.
The
repairman is at the door. (at is a preposition; door is a
noun, and is the object of the preposition.)
Prepositional phrases are almost always used as
adjectives or adverbs. If the phrase is being used as an adjective, it
comes after the noun or pronoun it is describing.
6 6. Clauses
A group of related words containing a subject and a
predicate.
a. Main (independent)
clause: An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete
sentence.
·
Amos
left work early because
his mother was ill. (Amos left work early is a complete sentence.)
Maggie loves pizza when it has extra cheese. (Maggie loves
pizza is a complete thought.)
Charlie has had a backache because he tried to lift the cow. (Charlie
has had a backache is a complete thought.)
b. Subordinate
(dependent) clause: A
subordinate clause cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence.
·
Amos left work early because
his mother was ill. (because his mother was ill is not a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone
as a sentence.)
·
Maggie
loves pizza when it has extra cheese. (when it has extra cheese is
not a complete thought.)
·
Since
he tried to lift the cow, Charlie
has had a backache. (Since he tried to lift the cow is not a complete
thought.)
